Identify that Tefilah #11

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Emuna Daily

“My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully.”

The answer will be in tomorrow’s post.

Posted in Identify that Prayer, Shmiras Haloshon | 4 Comments

The Day(s) After Purim

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Emuna Daily

Rabbi Meir Shalom of Porisov would make it a point to distribute money to the poor on the day after Purim.  He would say “Since there is a special obligation to give gifts to the poor on Purim, people neglect this commandment the day after Purim.  It is especially important to perform a neglected mitzvah. ~ Derech Tzadikim as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

Posted in Chesed, Stories of Tzaddikim | Leave a comment

All For Your Children

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Emuna Daily

Every day, take one half hour to think about your children and where they’re headed.

Then do all you can about it.

Then do more. ~ I believe this is from R’ Tzvi Freeman

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Imitating Haman

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Emuna Daily

A Purim play was put on in the yeshiva, with the main characters being Moredechai and Esther.  “Playing the role of Haman is easy, R’ Yoself Yozel Hurwitz commented, “for everyone has a touch of arrogance and cruelty.  But to live up to Mordechai’s midos is very difficult, so it takes special effort to imitate them.” ~ Sparks of Mussar

Posted in Mussar | Leave a comment

Havdalah

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Emuna Daily

Almost 100 years ago, after visiting America, R’ Meir Shapiro zt”l, the founder of “daf yomi,” commented that “American Jewry has learned to make Kiddush; it has not yet learned how to make havdalah!”

Havdalah – the ability to identify what is harmful to Jewish life and holiness and to separate one’s self from it – is infinitely harder to deal with than is the convivial Kiddush. ~ Based on a shiur I heard from R’ Shay Shachter and an article from R’ Berel Wein

Posted in Mussar, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Honor him

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Emuna Daily

One should regard everyone else as greater than himself. If another is more of a talmid chochom, one is obligated to honor him. If another is wealthier, he is also deserving of honor as Talmud Eruvin 86a relates: “Rabbi Yehuda haNasi would honor the rich”–one should think that since Hashem granted this other person wealth, he is surely worthy of it. – R’ Shlomo Gantzfried zt”l

The answer to yesterday’s “Identify that Prayer” is “Yehei rava kadamuch…” at the end of “Brich Shemei.”

Posted in Mussar | Leave a comment

Identify that Prayer#10

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Emuna Daily

“May it be Your will that You open my heart to the Torah and that You fulfill the wishes of my heart and the heart of Your entire people Israel for good, for life, and for peace.”

This one is a bit more difficult.  The answer will be in tomorrow’s post.

Additionally, if anyone is interested, I heard this incredible Purim shiur last year from R’ Ephraim Lever called “Don’t Miss Opportunities.”  I then listened it to again, then transcribed it and then thought about it all year. It is that good!  Here is the link: https://www.torahanytime.com/video/purim-dont-miss-opportunities/

Posted in Identify that Prayer | 2 Comments

It Ruins Your Reputation

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Emuna Daily

One who speaks ill of others become contemptible even to those who listened to his evil talk and accepted it as truth….And [they] will forever suspect that he might one day speak ill of them. ~ The Chofetz Chaim

Posted in Shmiras Haloshon | Leave a comment

The Forgotten Umbrella

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Emuna Daily

A guest once forgot his umbrella in Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv’s Yeshiva of Kelm. Thirteen years later, he returned to the yeshiva and found his umbrella in the exact spot where he had left it. ~ Tnuas Hamussar as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin

Posted in Stories | Leave a comment

Our Survival

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Emuna Daily

When I ponder the miracle of the survival of the Jewish people, it is in my mind greater than all the miracles and wonders that God performed for our ancestors in Egypt, in the wilderness and in the land of Israel.  The longer the exile persists, the more apparent the miracle becomes. ~ R’ Yaakov Emden (1697-1776)

Posted in Emuna, Spirituality | Leave a comment